#SheReviews Film: Lee

Kate Winslet is an absolute favourite actor of mine so when asked to review her latest film, Lee I jumped at the chance. This film touches on my love of history, feminism, and women’s rights with an absolute stellar performance from Winslet in the lead role.

Based on a true story this biopic tells the story of Lee Miller, a wartime photojournalist who managed to capture some of the greatest moments in history. Directed by Ellen Kuras and written by Liz Hannah this film boasts a stellar cast including Marion Cotiilard, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg and Alexander Skarsgard. Yet, it is Winslet’s outstanding performance which steers the show.

The Story

Lee opens in the South of France in 1938. Lee Miller is a former model, now determined photographer. She is vacationing in the south with her artistic friends. They spend some idyllic days together but with war looming, she follows her love, art dealer and artist Roland Penrose to London. She captures some unforgettable images of Londoners huddled in underground stations, bloodied patients and women of the war at work. Here in London though she struggles against the restrictions on female photographers at British Vogue.

Lee eventually secures her own US War Accreditation and heads to Europe alone, despite Penrose’s misgivings. Partnering with fellow photographer, David E. Scherman, Lee captures pivotal moments of World War Two, including the liberation of Paris and the horrors of concentration camps. She even gains access to Hitler’s apartment after he and Eva Braun have fled.

The film highlights the difficulties and resilience of being a woman in a male – dominated field, the horrors of war and post war trauma. Based on a true story this historical drama highlights a woman whose imperfect life was one of bravery, strength and stoicism. Being a woman prevented her being taken seriously at times and she had to gain access to a man’s world to fulfil her destiny. Her photos to this day are an amazing record of the time, captured through a woman’s lens.

The Cast

Winslet portrayed the tough broad role to a tee. It is only near the end of the film that we learn the reasons for Lee’s hard outer shell. She uses her looks and voice, but also her lived experiences as both muse and model, to create heartrending photographs which respect the vulnerability of many of her subjects.

Winslet is perfect for this role as she has a lived experience of her own which shines through. She tugged at my emotions on many occasions throughout and she had to carry much of the film with the focus of the camera solely on her and her expressions.

Her chemistry with Samberg was one of the highlights for me and his longing for this unattainable woman pulled at my heartstrings. Their scenes together while embroiled in the aftermath of war proved to be some of the best for this reviewer. Tissues were needed.

I also enjoyed watching the compassionate British Vogue Editor, Audrey Withers, a great performance from Geordie actor, Andrea Riseborough. Marion Cotillard’s role was small but heart wrenching as we see the changes war has wrought upon this once vivacious woman.

To me this film proved to be a fascinating portrait of a woman I knew nothing about and whose story needed to be told. Having a British grandfather who fought in two World Wars and served out the Second World War in a prisoner of war camp, I know how much of their life and history is left unsaid because of these dark times. As Winslet says in the film, “What has been seen can’t be unseen.”

This film tells a real story where you are captured by Kate Winslet’s command of her role in every frame. This is a grown-up and powerful film about a woman ahead of her time and it captivated our advanced screening audience. I will certainly be seeking out more of Lee Miller’s work after watching her story. Lee will be in cinemas October 24.